Actonians 2’s have won the Division 3 Merit League and secured promotion with a truly inspirational victory over local West London rival, Old Isleworthians.

Big games need big performances and Saturday’s clash did not disappoint.

Both teams were fired up for this clash with Actonians with promotion in their sights and Old Isleworthians with a place in the play-offs in theirs.
Having beaten Old I’s away in their fiery first game of the season, Actonians knew they a big task at hand to push this Old I’s team once more.
The day was bright and the wind was high. The stage was set for a match that will live long in the memories of every member of Actonians.

Actonians kicked off playing into the clubhouse and straight away set the tone early with some massive first tackles to keep Old I’s locked in their own 22 and force the errors.
With their massive gain line advantage through contact, Actonians were pushing for the first try of the day on the Old I’d 5. The offside penalty was awarded and with some sharp thinking by Actonians’ Number 8, Josh Nagle, the ball was tapped and before any player and ref could react, the bruising back row was over the white wash and first points went to Actonians.
Windy conditions were a big factor for this massive fixture and Actonians conversion was not converted.
Actonians 5-0 up within the first 5 minutes.
Old I’s didn’t let this lead last long though. Through some ill-discipline around the rucks from A’s and good kicking from their 10, they were down in Actonians 5 and mauled over for their first try of the day.
5-5. Game on.

With the wind at their backs, Actonians had kicked well to quickly get themselves back down into the Old I’s half. Again, Old I’s were penalised for offside and Actonians had a penalty on the Old I’s 5 metre.
Basics called, up stepped the big men. Adam ‘The Boy’ Dombayeva wanted it. He crashed hard but was stopped just short at the line. Another big carry from the ever-reliable Tom Wilkins came agonisingly close. Held up. Old I’s had the goal line drop out but an error from their 10 and it was kicked straight out on the full. The strong wind rearing its head once more.
Actonians were gifted a scrum on the Old I’s 5 metre. Some instructions were passed to the pack from Dec before the set and the plan was executed perfectly. Theo Galamez picked from the base and burst down the blindside. Try Actonians. No one was stopping Le Grand Bulldozer from there.
10-5.
But once more, Old I’s were up to the challenge and they fought back down the pitch and secured another 7 points through their forwards momentum around the ruck.
Half time score: Actonians 10 - 12 Old I’s.

Actonians knew they’d a lot to work on for the second half. Trying to win turnovers when they weren’t on and forcing passes had cost them penalties and ground in the first half. As Actonians saw it, this was the last 40 minutes of their league season. They were ready to give it their all for the club.
And with the first team having returned from their away victory over Old Millhillians, the sideline had just got a whole lot louder.

Actonians received the kick off and played with a more measured approach to their defence. But Old I’s didn’t care about that message and through a brilliant 25 metre break from their big Number 5, they were in for an early second half try. The away team were determined to spoil this party today.
10 -19 to Old I’s. 35 minutes left on the clock.

But these are the moments that test a team’s will the most and Actonians were not about to let this one slip away.
Off the restart, Old I’s carried hard and Actonians were penalised at the breakdown once more for not rolling away. Old I’s 10 tried to stretch his kick to the corner but the wind had other ideas and the ball stayed on the pitch and bounced all the way over the dead ball line. Scrum Actonians and they had a great attacking platform on the Old I’s 10 metre line. Old I’s were penalised for offside and with a thumping kick from Elliot Lucas, Actonians were inside the Old I’s 22. The Actonians line out had been solid all day but this one was straight from the top drawer. With huge lift and full stretch take from Hugo McDonald, Actonians went to the maul hard and drove Old I’s past the 5 metre. Nothing could stop their momentum and within a flash Actonians hooker, Sam O’Connor broke free with the ball and dotted down in the left corner. A big kick on the touchline from Dec gave Actonians a massive 7 points. Actonians 17 - 19 Old I’s.

There was a buzz in the air now and the momentum was slowly starting to turn Actonians’ way. Another try was inevitable. Off another great line out won, Actonians piled the pressure on the Old I’s defence. Then with eyes only for the try line and great footwork, Josh Nagle was in under the posts. The man was loving every minute of this game. Easy conversion and Actonians had regained their lead. 24 - 19 to the A’s.

But Josh Nagle was not finished there. Another miss kick all the way to the dead ball from Old I’s saw Actonians with another attacking scrum on their opposition’s 10. A big defensive scrum from Old I’s pushed Actonians hard but Josh saw the threat and picked from the base and was away down the blindside. The Old I’s winger could did little more than pray as Josh steamed over him to score another incredible try. A tough conversion missed but Actonians had pushed their lead to 10.
29 - 19.

The last thing Actonians wanted now was to show complacency and they knew they had to put this game and whole league to bed.
The Old I’s defence was cracking and some big breaks up the right touchline saw Actonians force Old I’s to concede another penalty for a high tackle. The kick to the corner was once again a beauty and Actonians again went to the maul off another superb line out. They drove over the white wash and when the ref’s arm went up and the pile of bodies cleared who stepped up with ball but Tom Wilkins. What a season he has had for Actonians. This time the try was converted and Actonians were sitting strong on 36 points to 19 with less than 5 to play.

Old I’s showed great fight and they got a well worked consolation try.
Then with Old I’s last play of the game, a hit and hope cross field kick into the Actonians’ 22 was plucked from the air by Reece Williamson-White. Mark called. Whistle blown.

ACTONIANS 2’s WIN THE MERIT 3 LEAGUE.

Final Score: ACTONIANS 2’s 36 - OLD ISLEWORTHIANS 26

Every player on the day gave their all and it was a massive team effort but when you score a hat trick carry like a demon around the pitch, the man of the match award had to go to Josh Nagle ( Did he buy a jug though?)

DOTD award was claimed by captain, Declan Bambrick who felt no man on the team deserved that title on a day like that. ( Some say it was deserved but this way he can phrase it as taking one for the team)

This was a massive win for all Actonians players and a hugely deserved day of celebration for members of the club. The tireless amount of work that has been put in by all players this season has finally paid off. Big thanks of course goes to our Head Coach, Andrew Barrington for driving the team on and off the training ground all year and building a squad week in week out despite an ever changing list of availability. Big thanks to Hitch also for his coaching on all things ball handling and rugby IQ.
And of course, a huge thank you to team physio, Keeley who with endless rolls of tape and padding has quite literally held the team together all season.

Another huge thank you to all the committee, volunteers and groundskeepers who without their hard work, we wouldn’t have a pitch to play on or even a team in this league. A shout out to our huge regular home crowd of 5, Big Rob, President Pete, Brentford Jimmy, Tugger on the lens and Marcin for his consistent score updates.

A special thanks must also go out to our club chairman Steve Partridge who not only has supported the club over many seasons but even brushed the cobwebs off the old boots and gave us a few hard minutes in the front row in this victory. ( A fine John Terry moment)

Whilst not wanting to sound like an Oscar speech, Massive thank you to Old Isleworthians for one of the best rugby games Actonians 2’s has been a part of.
We wish them all the best in the play-offs and their new season ahead

Actonians 2’s season far from over.
They’re now training hard to clinch the double against their other local rivals Ealing Trailfinders 3’s in the MT Vase Final on 11th March.
KO will be 12pm at Wasps FC.

UP THE MIGHT A’s !!